Mechanism for spacing and justifying tabular work on linotype-machines.



Y Pafented lune ll, l90l.

I w. FLETCHER. m'gvcflA'msu FOR SPACING Ann ausnrvma TABULAB WORK onLINDTYPE MACHINES.

' (Application filed Mar. 15. 1901'.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented lune ll, I90l.

3 Sl leets-Sheet 2.

W. FLETCHER.

(Applicatio n filed Mar. 15, 1901.)

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w 3 m 6 u V A 2" I I%I I V/////A A? A 9 1 v Iki ll mfl MECHANISMYFURSPAC ING AND JUSTIFYING TABULAR WORK ON L|NOTYP E MACHINES.

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No. eimos. Patented June :1. 19m.

- w. FLETCHER.

MECHANISM FOR SPAQING AND JUSTIFYING TABULAR WORK ON LINOTYPE MACHINES.

(Application filed Km. 15, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

\VILLIAM FLETCHER, OF LONG ACRE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE MERGENTI-IALERLINOTYPE COMPANY, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

MECHANISM FOR SPACING AND JUSTIFYING TABULAR WORK ON LlNOTYPE-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATLQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,306, dated June 11,1901.

Application filed March 15, 1901. Serial No- 51,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM FLETCHER, of Mercer's avenue, Endellstreet, Long Acre, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented acertain new and useful Improved Mechanism for Spacing and J ustifyin gTabular Matter Composed on Linotype-Machines; andI do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertainstomake and use the same.

The present invention relates to improved mechanism by which theoperator. can satisfactorily space and a linotype-machine is enabled toautomatically justify tabular matter composed on it, the said inventionbeing particularly applicable to the Mergenthaler linotype-machinedescribed in the specification of Letters Patent No. 436,532, datedSeptember 16, 1890. In this machine the composed line of matrices andspace-bars for a given linotype is held for the purpose of beingjustified between two vise-jaws,onc standing at each end of the line ata distance from its fellow equal to the standard length of the linotypeto be cast from it. Each space-bar is a double wedge and they make thespaces between the words. These spaces are thickened and the composedline extended at the same time to the standard length by the act ofextension orjustification, which latter consists in the depending tailsor single wedges of all the space-bars in the line being pushed upthrough the composed line over the respective single and stationarywedges. This j ustification is effected by an automatic lifting-plate,which acts first upon a space-bar at one end of the line and then uponall the others successively, so that it starts where the first space-baris and continues throughout the line in the direction of that end of itwhich is next to the last space-bar, and during its continuance all thematrices and space-bars after the first space-bar are moved more or lesstoward the opposite vise-jaw. The two vise-jaws serve during thejustification as abutments to limit the extension of the composed lineto the standard length.

. Tabular matter is divided into measures, so many measures to a line,two or more, as the case may be, all the measures for a givencolumninthetablebeingof thesamelength. The operator may introduce onespace-bar into each measure or into only some of the measures; but theordinary justifying mechanism above described will make the measures ofdifferent lengths, because as there are no abutments at the ends of theseveral measures intermediate of the two end abutments above mentionedthere is nothing to prevent one space-bar being thickened enough to pushthe adjacent end of the next measure out of register with thecorresponding measure in the line above or below it. It is true that theoperator may compose the measures -tight by means of quads, therebydispensing with the use of the space-bars above mentioned, but even thenhe will fail to secure perfect register.

The present invention consists in providing each measure in thematrix-line with an abutment intermediate of it and the next one, meansby which the mold-block can hold the said abutment in theproperposition, so that when the machine begins tojustify each measure isbetween two abutments which limit its extension to the proper length,and means for justifying each measure independently of the othermeasures in the same composed line of matrices.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part ofthis specification and read therewith, Figure l is a side elevation of ameasure-quad adapted to act as an intermediate abutment; Fig. 2, a sideelevation of a Mergenthaler linotype-matrix and a measure-quad behindit; Fig. 3, a rear elevation of the vise-frame, vise-jaws, or lineendabutments, composed line of matrices, space-bars, and intermediateabutments, and means for justifying each measure by itself; Fig. 4, anenlarged sectional elevation of the justifying means of Fig. 3, showingit detached and out of action; Fig. 5, a sectional elevation from theright hand of the Morgenthalerlinotype-machine, showing a composed lineof matrices, intermediate abutments, and

space-bars j ustitied and in the casting position; Fig. 6, a perspectiveview of "the same composed line from the rear, including the vise-jawsor end abutments in dotted lines; Fig. 7', a front elevation, on anenlarged scale,

IOO

on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a front ele vation of an em meterfor a four-nieasurejobg,

Fig. 11, a rear elevation of a measure-quad adapted to act as aleader-matrix, and Fig. 12 a rear elevation of a measure-quad adapted toact as a vertical-rule matrix.

receptacle.

Y Yare the matrices; y y, the notches in their rear edges; y y, thealining lugs; 11 11 the formative cavities, one in the front 'end ofeach notch 11 g y, the distributing-teeth; 19 10 the two vise-jaws; 0,the slot in the mold-block 0 0 the alining-shoulder on the saidmold-block; 0P the mold-block plate; 0, the mold-block carrier; Z,asingle wedge or depending tail; 2, astationary single wedge, and Z 2its supporting-shoulders, the two wedges constituting a space-bar; N,the head that holds the composed line in the casting position; 19 thelifting-plate; 19 19 the rods by which the machine works the plate p; j,the assembly-bar; j, the indicator of the emmeter; 3' its stationarystop; its pivot fast to a block 7' which inits turn is fast to the barj, and j j shoulders on the indicator j. The job to be composed being afourmeasure one, an indicator having its shouldersj set out thereonaccordinglyis selected, its nose entered into the stop 3' and itsopposite end dropped onto the pivot 9' As there are fourv measures theremust be four shoulders correspondingly placed to engage in turn withthe.stop 7' The indicator 7' carries three of thesethe shoulders j thefourth being a block on the barj, such as the block 7 All the parts justdescribed are as heretofore.

The emmeter illustrated is taken from the specification of LettersPatent No. 646,227, dated March 27, 1900; but no special emineter isnecessary to the action of the present invention, and the operator mayrely upon any means for showing him when he has got to the end of ameasure.

The present invention is used and acts as follows: There is a supply ofmeasurequads 1, as they may be called, in the sortsbox of the machine orin some othersuitable One 'of these is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 bythe side of and behind a matrix Y to show the similarities and thedifferences between them. The difierences are as follows: All of thesame font are of a uniform and substantial thickness. They are of steelinstead of brass, because the former material is harder than the latter,and as they are to act as abutments hardness in them independent ofthickness is desirable. Theirrear edges are (subject to the admissiblemodification described farther on) plainz'. e. without notch y or cavityg They have no distributing-teeth 3 because they are intended to beleftby the distributer when it takesvup a composed line fordistribution, and the bottom rear lugs 2 are nearly twice as long as thebotof their respective measures.

comes up to them.

tom rear lugs 31 on a matrix Y. One of these measure-quads preceded byone space bar is added to the growing linein the assembly-box head ofthe first measure. -The reason why a measure-quad is not put at the headof the first measure nor at the end of the last one is that when thecomposed line of matrices, space-bars, and measure-quads is in thecastingposition it will find an abutment-the visejaw p'-f or thecommencement of the first measure and a second one-the vise-jaw 12 forthe end of the last measure, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Further, thespace-bar for the last measure is not at the end of that measure, but atthe distance of a quad or two Y orof a matrix or two therefrom toprevent friction between its long wedge Z and the vise-jaw 19 ISingle-wedge space-bars instead of the double wedge ones may be used, ifdesired. Any grooves that the presence of the lugs 2 may require in theframe or other parts of the machine to make room for the said lugs asthey pass from the point of assemblage toward the casting position, asin the back rail of the assembly-box I and in the rear side of thestationary guide-block M of the specification No. 436,532, of 1890,above mentioned, are provided for that purpose.

Itis obvious that the measure-quads 1 cannot act as abutments unlessthey are held in their respective positions while the line is beingjustified, which positions are at the ends The holding device consistsof a corresponding number of sockets 3 in the face of the mold-block 0positioned therein according to that of the The mold- 'block 0 is movedup from the rear to fit ends of the respective measures.

metal-tight up to the composed line of matrices, stopping for a fewmoments before it gets up so far as that for the j ustifying-plate p tojustify the composed line. The present invention takes advantage of thatforward .motion to make the sockets 3 engage over the respectiveprojecting lugs 2, thereby making the measure-quads 1 true abutments.The sockets 3 are only just large enough to surround the projecting lugs2, so that the measure-quads lshall be incapable of either vertical orhorizontal motion during the act of justilication. It is, however,advisable that the sides of the said sockets shall be flared or beveledoutwardly a little, as shown in Fig. 7,

and the noses of the said lugs be beveled or tapered 01f a little bothtop and bottom to fa cilitate the engagement of the sockets with them atthe moment when the moldblock 0 This engagement is effected just beforethe justifying-plate p begins to act on the space-bars and continuesthroughout its justifying action and until the cast linotype is clear ofthe composed line. Thus in they case of the job dealt with by Figs. 1 to7 and 10 the composed line consists of four measures. It has thereforethree measure-quads 1 at the end of respectively first, second, andthird measures, and these, with the two vise-jaws p 11 constitute fourpairs of abutments, the two abutments of "each pair holding all theelements of the respective measures between them and preventing thatmeasure being extended beyond them.

The justification is conducted on the same general lines as described inthe specification of Letters Patent No. 436,532, already referredto-that is, the matrices and quads are prevented from being pushedupward by the alining shoulder 0 on the mold-block 0 standing over thebottom rear lugs y and the short wedges 2' by the engagement of theirlugs 2 in the groovesin the elevator-head N, as shown in Fig. 5; but aseach measure must be justified independently of the others thecontinuous justifying-plate 19, that suffices for a continuous line,must be modified by being divided into as many independent plates 4=asthere are measures. Each plate 4 is long enough to bear against thetails Z of all the spacebars that there may be in the respective measureand is short enough to clear the plate or plates next to it. Thismodification is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. plate 19 has heretofore beenfitted with a removable top plate; but this is omitted to facilitate theconnection of the plates 4 to the plate. 11 This connection consists ofdepending pins 5, one or more, according to the length of each plate 4,made fast thereto, vertical holes 6 in the plate 19 in which'they canwork freely, and springs 7, one around each pin 5 and resilient betweenthe plate 19 and the respective plate 4..

The positions of the sockets 3 in the moldblock 0 must be fixed, and itis further de sirable that a mold-block should carry sets of them foreach possible change in the number and lengths of the measures. To meetthese requirements, especially the latter one, they are cut in the topedge of the well-known mold-block plate 0 which is part of the means bywhich the mold-block 0 is held to the mold-block carrier 0. Eachmold-block 0 may be fitted with several mold-block plates 0, each onehaving a different set of sockets 3. Thus the plate-0 shown in Fig. 8fits the mold-block shown in Fig. 7; but it has a set of five sockets 3for a six-measure job. At the same time a plate 0 may have as many setsof sockets 3 as it can receive without a socket of one set running intoa socket of another set. It is only when such running into in the caseof one and the same plate 0 would occur that a substitute plate 0becomes necessary.

Referring again to the measure-quads 1, it is obvious that their rearedges being plain they act also as quads at the end of their re spectivemeasures. Further, ameasure-quad may be adapted to act also as acharacter-ma- The i trixe. g., as a leader-matrix by having aleader-formative cavity 8 punched in its rear edge, as shown in Fig. 11,or as a rule-matrix to cast part of a vertical rule on the printing edgeof the respective linotype by having a part verticaLrule-formativecavity 9 punched in its rear edge, as shown in Fig. 12.

The present invention is equally applicable to type-dies used to indenta stereotype fiong, and that being the case the appellatives matrixmatrices are to be understood as including such type-dies. It is to benoted in this connection that the substitution of a type-diefiong-indenting combination for the combination of mold-cavity oand rowof formative cavities 3 illustrated is well known and that themold-block carrier 0 would in that case be the flong-carrier.

I believe myself to be the first to combine with a composed line ofmatrices means for dividing the lines into sections ofpredeterminedlength and means for justifying the matrices in each section or measureindependently of those in the other section, and it is to be understoodthat I claim,-broadly, means to this end in any form the mechanicalequivalent of that herein'shown and described, the details ofconstruction being of secondary importance.

-What I claim as my invention is-- 1. In combination with a composed orassembled line of matrices, one or more abutments dividing the line intolengths or measures, means for holding said abutments immovably inposition, and means for justifying each'section or measure independentlyof the others.

2. The combination with a line of matrices composed for tabular Work, ofan abutment at and for each end of the said line at a distance from eachother equal to the standard length of line; an abutment intermediate ofeach measure and the next one; means by which the said abutments areheld in their respectively proper positions while the said line is beingjustified; and means for justifying each measure independently of theotht:-

measures in the line.

3. The combination of measure quad; socket in the mold-block to hold thesame against vertical or horizontal movement during the act ofjustification; means for enabling the mold-block to engage the saidmeasure-quad and an independent plate on the justifying-plate, for eachmeasure.

4. The combination of measure=quad adapted to act as a character matrix;socket in the mold-block to hold the same against vertical or horizontalmovement during the act of justification; means for enabling themold-block to engage the said measure-quad; and an independent plate onthe justifying-plate, for each measure.

5. The combination of measure-quad adapted to act as a rule-matrixsocket in the moldblock to hold the same against vertical or horizontalmovement during the act of 'justifica tion;'n1eans for enabling themold-block to engage the said measure-quad and an independent plate onthe justifying-plate,for each measure.

6. A measure-quad for use with linotypef matrices in setting tabularmatter, its body portion corresponding with the matrices and its edgesadapted to project beyond the mating their ears formed to protrudebeyond those of the matrices,whereby they are adapted to cooperate withretaining devices.

composed in measures for tabular work; a measure-quad adapted to act asan abutment between each measure; an abutment at each end of thecom-posed line; means for securing th'eabutments in position; aspace-bar in each measure; and an automatic justifying-plate carrying aspring-supported justifying-plate for each of the said measures.

9. The combination of a line of matrices next. 8-. The combination of aline of matrices 1 5 positions in the said line while the latter isbeing justified; an abutment at each end of I the composed lineseparated from its fellow by a distance equal to the standard length ofthe line; a space-bar in each measure; and means for advancing thespace-bars of the respective measures independently.

10. In a liuotype-machine, a composed line of matrices, including one ormore matrices for producing rules,a mold to cooperate theref with, andmeans directly engaging the rulematrices to hold them in predeterminedpositions against lateral movement, whereby the rule produced on oneslug or linotype is caused to register exactly with that on the 11. In alinotype-machine, a composed line i of matrices, including matrices forproducing column-rules transversely on the lin'otype, means for holdingsaid rule-matrices firmly in predetermined positions, andindependently-adjustable spacers between the rulematrices toefiectjustification of the various Z sections or measures in the line.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses. composed in measures for tabular work; a I 1 measure-quadsituated between each two adjacent measures to act as an abutment thereforthem both; means for holding the said measure-quads in theirrespectively proper r WILLIAM FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

CHAS. S. WoopRoFFE, MARK BARR.

